Convertible article



Dec. 1, 1970 E. MULLER, 3,544,157

CONVERTIBLE ARTICLE Filed May 8, 1968 2. Sheets-Sheet 1 4 mus/9m? fMdNl/EL M01452 gwfmrzg a De.1,1970 4 EMULLER' v 3,544,151

CONVERTIBLE ARTICLE Filed llay 8, 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet z 3,544,157 CONVERTIBLE ARTICLE Emanuel Muller, 4671 Park Ave., Apt. 2, Montreal, Quebec, Canada Filed May 8, 1968, Ser. No. 727,598 Claims priority, application Canada, May 10, 1967, 990,163 Int. Cl. A47c 13/00 US. Cl. 297-118 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The present invention relates to a folding chair which when folded has sufiiciently readily accessible space inside to serve as a suitcase and when unfolded can serve as a chaise lounge or bed.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to an article which is adapted to three uses. More particularly, this invention relates to an assembly which may take the form of a suitcase, chair or chase lounge, and is readily convertible from one to the other of said forms.

Hence, the assembly of the present invention may be considered as a suitcase which is adapted by the addition of further parts to be converted into either a chair or a chaise lounge. While the assembly is in the form of a suitcase, it can, of course, be used for the normal purpose for which a suitcase is designed, i.e. to provide a place for storing and carrying articles such as clothing, documents or the like.

If, therefore, the assembly of the present invention is considered to be primarily a suitcase, it is a suitcase in which one part of the structure may be used to form the seat part of a chair or part of the supporting surface of a chaise lounge, a second part of the structure forms the backrest of the chair or chaise lounge and in which the suitcase is provided with an attachment or attachments which can be used to form the legs of the chair.

It is known in the art to provide a chair which may be converted into a form suitable for carrying by hand, and it is also known to provide such a folding and portable chair having a space for storing small articles so that it can also be used as a suitcase.

However, no article has been described in the literature which can serve the three functions performed by a suitcase, chair and chaise lounge.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Hence, according to the present invention there is provided an assembly capable of assuming three configurations. In one configuration it is a suitcase, in a second configuration it is a chair, and in the third configuration it is a chaise lounge. The assembly is constructed so that it is capable of facile manipulation between any of said configurations. The said assembly when in the configuration of a suitcase has a lid hingedly arranged so that in one lockable position it closes the suitcase, and in another lockable position it forms the backrest of the chair or chaise lounge configuration, while the base of the suitcase forms the seat of said chair or part of the supporting surface of said chaise lounge. The interior of the suitcase accommodates legs which are movable between an inoperative position in which they are wholly within the interior of said suitcase and a supporting position in which they extend from the interior of said suitcase and support said base. The base of the suitcase is also adapted to accommodate at least one extension panel in said panels closed lockable position so that the supporting United States Patent 0 Patented Dec. 1, 1970 ice surface of the panel lies flush with the surface of said base when the assembly is in the configuration of a chair and where the panel is movable from said closed position to an extended position in which it provides an extension of the base of the suitcase in a direction remote from said backrest to form said chaise lounge configuration, the extension being provided with retractable legs for support thereof.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the assembly is provided with a second extension panel movable between the first closed lockable position in which it is accommodated in said base in a similar manner to the first extension panel, and a second lockable position in which it provides an extension of the supporting surface of the first extension panel in a direction remote from said backrest, this second panel also being provided with retractable legs for support thereof. This second extension panel may be mounted on the assembly in any suitable manner but is preferably pivotably mounted on the first extension panel for movement between its closed and extended positions.

The components of the assembly forming extension panels and the supporting legs for the extension panels can obviously be incorporated in the entire structure in any suitable manner. However, it is preferred that these components forming the extension panels and the supporting legs therefor should be accommodated in a recess in the base of the suitcase. The most suitable manner in which this can be accomplished is to accommodate the extension panels and the supporting legs in a recess along the outer periphery of the base of the suitcase.

The supporting legs of the chair may be attached to the base either indirectly or directly as long as they perform their function in an adequate manner, but in a preferred embodiment of the invention they are directly attached to the base by means of hinges.

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate the embodiments of the invention:

FIG. 1 is a perspective drawing of the assembly in the configuration of a chair.

FIG. 2 is an exploded side view of the assembly in the configuration of a chair and showing the extension panels which convert the chair into a chaise lounge partially extended.

FIG. 3 is a perspective drawing of the assembly in the chaise lounge configuratison.

In the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3, the assembly comprises a base 1, a lid 2 and legs 3 and 4.

FIG. 1 shows how the lid 2 of the suitcase may be rotated around edge 5 by means of hinge 6 to form the backrest (2) of a chair. The backrest (2) is maintained in its position by means of supporting struts 7 and 8. The drawing also indicates how legs 3 and 4 which are pivotably mounted (as shown in FIG. 2) may be retracted in to the lid of the suitcase. The handle for carrying the suitcase is shown at 9.

FIG. 2 illustrates how the assembly may be converted from a chair into a chaise lounge. In the drawing, the chair just described with reference to FIG. 1 is shown with the extension panels 10 and 11 partially extended. The first of the extension panels 10 is pivotably mounted to the base 1 by means of a bar 12 attached through pivots 13 and 14. The first extension panel 10 has a supporting leg 15 attached to the end furtherest from the backrest 2 of the chair. The leg 15 is attached to the panel 10 through a pivot 16 and may be locked in its supporting position by means of hinge 17. The second extension panel 11 is mounted on the first extension panel 10 in a similar manner by means of pivots 18 and 20 and bar 19. Leg 21 is attached to panel 11, in a similar way to that inwhich the leg 15 supporting the first panel is attached, through pivot 22 and the hinge 23 which is shown in its locked supporting position.

By the use of dotted outlines the position of the legs 3 and 4 when in the retracted position inside the base 1 is shown.

FIG. 3 shows the assembly of the invention in the form of a chaise lounge with panels 10 and 11 in their fully extended position with their top surfaces 'flush with the top surface 24 of the base 91. The legs 15 and 21 are shown in their supporting position with hinges 17 and 23 locked. Tranverse bracing struts 25 and 26 help to maintain rigidity of the assembly when in the chaise lounge configuration.

ably mounted to the base in such a way that it can be adapted in the chair or chaise lounge configuration to lie substantially horizontal and level with the top surface of the base of the suitcase and thus; provide a further extension of the horizontal supporting surface of the chair or chaise lounge.

In the particular embodiment described above, the chaise lounge is shown to have two supporting panels and specific types of hinges, legs and other constructional elements. These features are not regarded as being the only element suitable and thus other components may obviously be used in their place and the resulting structure or assembly remain wholly within the ambit of the present invention.

The materials from which the assembly of the present invention is made can be varied within fairly wide limits and include the use of wood, metal and plastic components for the formation of the framework and supporting elements such as the legs, and cloth, plastic or rubber for the supporting surfaces of the panels and lining the sides of the suitcase, etc. However, the assembly of the present invention is preferably constructed using light metal components for the framework and plastic or heavy cloth for the supporting surfaces and covering other parts of the assembly.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. An assembly capable of assumingthree configurations in one of which it is a suitcase, in another of which it is a chair, and in the third of which it is a chaise lounge, and is capable of facile manual manipulation between any of said configurations, said assembly in the configuration of a suitcase including:

'(a) a base, p

(b) a lid in spaced relation to said base, forming a storage compartment therebetween,

k (c) said lid being rotatable about an edge of the suitcase into a position for forming a backrest above the aft portion of said base,

(d) means for maintaining the backrest in operative position,

(e) supporting legs retractably mounted in the storage compartment of the suitcase,

(f) means for dropping said supporting legs downwardly, to form a chair,

(g) an extension panel, 2

(h) a bar, one terminal of which is pivoted to the aft terminal'of said extension panel,

(i) the opposite terminal of said bar being pivoted to an intermediate lateral portion of said base,

(j) whereby said extension panelmay be moved from a position in superimposed relation with said base to a position which is' substantially horizontal and level with the top surface of said base to form a chaise lounge.

2. The assembly of claim 1, with the addition of (a) locking means for retaining said extension panel in contiguous, superimposed relation with said base, when the assembly is in the configuration of a suitcase orchair. V

3. The assembly of claim 1, with the addition of (a) retractable supporting legs engaged with the aft end of said extension panel.

4. The assembly of claim 3, with the addition of (a) a second extension panel,

(b) a bar, one terminal of which is pivoted to the aft terminal of said second extension panel,

(0) the opposite terminal of said bar being pivoted to an iritermediate lateral portion of said first extension pane (d) whereby said second extension panel may be moved from a position in superimposed relation with said first extension panel to a position which is substantially horizontal and level with the top surface of said first extension panel.

5. The assembly of claim 4, with the addition of -(a) retractable supporting legs engaged with the aft end of said second extension panel.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,337,955 12/1943 Wright 297-22 3,179,465 4/ 1965 Roberts 297-17 3,309,134 3/1967 Roberts 29717 FOREIGN PATENTS 735,540 8/ 1955 GreatBritain.

CASMIR A. NUNBERG, Primary Examiner us. 01. X.R. 5-112; 297-17 

